speak
/spiːk/verb
उच्चारण स्पीक
बात करना, बोलना
Basic wordPYP · asked 17 times
Asked in previous papers
as antonym, idiom, phrasal verb
+12 more
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[I] ~ (to/with sb) (about sth/sb)
to talk to somebody about something; to have a conversation with somebody
बात करना, बोलना
- Can I speak to the manager?
- She spoke to me about her plans.
- May I speak to Radhika, please?
+ 2 more examples
- The teacher wants to speak to your parents.
- I will speak to him about the leave tomorrow.
Synonyms talk converse communicate chat discuss
Opposite be silent listen
- 2
[T] ~ sth
to be able to use a particular language
(भाषा) बोलना
- She speaks three languages.
- He speaks Bengali at home and English at work.
- Radhika speaks Hindi, English and Marathi.
+ 2 more examples
- Do you speak French?
- He speaks English with a soft accent.
Synonyms communicate in use be fluent in
- 3
[I]
to make a speech to an audience
भाषण देना
- The minister spoke at the convocation.
- A famous poet will speak at the college festival tomorrow evening.
- The chief guest will speak after the prayer.
+ 2 more examples
- She spoke for ten minutes about the benefits of reading.
- Several students spoke at the debate on Friday.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 5
speak to / with + sb
To is the usual choice; with suggests a two-way talk.
सामान्यतः 'to' आता है; 'with' दोतरफ़ा बातचीत दर्शाता है।
- May I speak to the manager?
speak about / on / of + topic
About for general, on for formal talks.
सामान्य विषय के लिए 'about', औपचारिक भाषण के लिए 'on'।
- The collector spoke on flood relief.
speak + language
No preposition before the language.
भाषा से पहले preposition नहीं लगता।
- She speaks Bengali and English.
speak - spoke - spoken
Irregular verb.
यह irregular verb है, इसलिए इसके रूप speak, spoke और spoken याद रखें।
- He has spoken to the principal.
speak (v) - speaker (n) - speech (n) - spokesperson (n)
A speech is a formal talk; the verb for it is give or deliver, not do.
Speech एक औपचारिक भाषण है; इसके लिए 'give' या 'deliver' क्रिया आती है, 'do' नहीं।
- The chief guest delivered a short speech.
+Collocations 4
adverb + speak
clearlyfluentlysoftlybluntlypublicly
- She speaks English fluently.
speak + noun
the truthyour mindvolumessenseout
- His marks speak volumes about his hard work.
speak + preposition
upoutforagainst
- Please speak up; I cannot hear you.
speak + manner
highly ofill ofwell ofin favour ofon behalf of
- Everyone speaks highly of the new principal.
“More examples 6
- Speak slowly so that everyone can follow.
धीरे बोलिए ताकि सब समझ सकें।
- He spoke against the proposal in the meeting.
उसने बैठक में प्रस्ताव के विरुद्ध बोला।
- Actions speak louder than words.
कर्म शब्दों से अधिक ऊँचा बोलते हैं।
- Radhika will speak at the annual function.
राधिका वार्षिकोत्सव में भाषण देंगी।
- May I speak to Mr Sharma, please?
क्या मैं श्री शर्मा से बात कर सकता हूँ?
- The teacher asked him to speak up in class.
शिक्षक ने उससे कक्षा में ज़ोर से बोलने को कहा।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ He speaks about the phone.
✓ He speaks on the phone.
Use on for the phone.
फ़ोन पर बात के लिए 'on' का प्रयोग होता है।
✗ I have spoke to him.
✓ I have spoken to him.
After has/have use spoken.
'Has/have' के बाद 'spoken' आता है।
✗ She speaks very fastly.
✓ She speaks very fast.
Fast is both adjective and adverb; fastly does not exist.
'Fast' adjective और adverb दोनों है; 'fastly' शब्द अंग्रेज़ी में नहीं है।
≠Thesaurus: which synonym when
¶Idioms 4
so to speak
used to say that you are describing something in an unusual way
एक तरह से, कहने का मतलब
- He is, so to speak, the brain of the team.
speak your mind
to say exactly what you think
मन की बात साफ़-साफ़ कहना
- She always speaks her mind.
actions speak louder than words
what you do is more important than what you say
कथनी से करनी बड़ी
- Do not promise; show it. Actions speak louder than words.
speak volumes (about/for sth/sb)
to tell you a lot about something or somebody without the need for words
बिना कहे बहुत कुछ कह देना
- Her silence spoke volumes.
→Phrasal verbs 4
speak out (against sth)
to state your opinion publicly, especially in opposition to something
(किसी के विरुद्ध) खुलकर आवाज़ उठाना
- Few people dared to speak out against the injustice.
speak up
to speak more loudly; to say what you think clearly
ज़ोर से बोलना; (अपनी बात) खुलकर कहना
- Could you speak up, please? I can't hear you.
speak for sb
to state the views of somebody
(किसी की ओर से) बोलना
- I can't speak for the others, but I'm happy with the decision.
speak to sb (about sth)
to talk to sb in order to tell them that they have done sth wrong
(ग़लती करने पर) किसी को समझाना या डाँटना
- I'll speak to him about his rude behaviour.
- The manager spoke to her about arriving late.
≈Synonyms and antonyms
?Which word?
speak or talk?
Speak is more formal and is used for one person addressing others, for languages and on the phone: 'May I speak to Mr Sharma?', 'She speaks Tamil.' Talk is used for conversation: 'We talked for hours.' Say and tell are followed by what is said: 'She said that...', 'She told me that...' (tell needs a person as object).
Speak अधिक औपचारिक है और एक व्यक्ति द्वारा दूसरों को संबोधित करने, भाषाओं और फ़ोन पर बात के लिए आता है: 'May I speak to Mr Sharma?', 'She speaks Tamil.' Talk बातचीत के लिए आता है: 'We talked for hours.' Say और tell के बाद कही गई बात आती है: 'She said that...', 'She told me that...' (tell के साथ व्यक्ति object चाहिए)।
The speak/talk/say/tell set is an error-spotting item.
Speak, talk, say और tell का सेट error spotting में आता है।
§Grammar and usage
Speak, spoke, spoken (not 'speaked').
Irregular verb बहुत पूछा जाता है: speak, spoke, spoken ('speaked' गलत है)।
Speak to or with sb, speak about or of sth, speak on a topic (in a speech).
'speak to' या 'with sb', 'speak about' या 'of sth', विषय पर भाषण में 'speak on'।
“Collocations, idioms and sayings
So to speak, speak your mind, speak volumes, actions speak louder than words, speak ill of (criticize), nothing to speak of (nothing important).
Idioms: so to speak, speak your mind, speak volumes, actions speak louder than words, speak ill of (बुराई करना), nothing to speak of (कुछ खास नहीं)।